Overview: The Huskies are the heavy favorites to bring home the program's ninth championship. Breanna Stewart is the likely player of the year, helping the team overcome the absence of Kaleena Mosqueda-Lewis during a bout with mono. She's back, giving even more depth to the nation's most talented roster. Connecticut can pour it on offensively (82.7 points a game, 12th nationally), but defense is where they are best: First in scoring defense (allowing 47.0 points a game), first in field goal percentage defense (30.4%) and first in blocks (8.2 a game).

Twitter: @UConnWBB

Did you know? Aueriemma and the Huskies can surpass Tennessee by claiming a women's NCAA record ninth title this season.

2. Duke

Nickname: Blue Devils. Location: Durham, N.C.

Record: 27-6, 12-4. Bid: ACC at-large.

Last appearance: 2013, lost to Notre Dame in Elite Eight.

Coach: Joanne McCallie, 25-17 in 17 appearances

Overview: Duke has made it to the second round or better each of the last six seasons. For the third consecutive year, Elizabeth Williams is ACC Defensive Player of the Year. Duke ranked second among conference teams in field goal percentage defense (.374).

Overview: The Aggies are 17-4 dating to Dec. 28 with two of the losses to SEC tournament champ Tennessee. Balanced club inside and out with sophomore Courtney Walker (14.5 ppg) leading the offense. Senior Karla Gilbert (11.2 ppg, 7.5 rpg) patrols the middle at 6-5. Versatile sophomore Jordan Jones had a triple-double in February and leads all Division I freshman and sophomores in assists.

Twitter: @AggieWBB

Did you know? Jones' brother Matt is a freshman reserve at Duke.

4. Nebraska

Nickname: Cornhuskers. Location: Lincoln.

Record: 25-6, 12-4. Bid: Big Ten champ.

Last appearance: 2012-2013, lost to Duke in the Sweet 16.

Coach: Connie Yori , 6-7 in seven appearances.

Overview: Nebraska won its first Big Ten title since joining the conference in 2011 The Huskers are powered by 6-2 senior Jordan Hooper, who averages 20.3 points and 9.2 rebounds a game. The Huskers shoot well from the line (79.3%, third in the nation) and share the ball well (17.1 assists a game, ranking them 13th).

Twitter: @HuskersWBB

Did you know? Yori has been named the conference coach of the year in both the Big Ten (2013) and Big 12 (2010) and claimed every major national coach-of-the-year honor in 2010.

5. North Carolina State

Nickname: Wolfpack. Location: Raleigh.

Record: 25-7, 11-5. Bid: ACC at-large.

Last appearance: 2013, lost to Wichita State in first round.

Coach: Wes Moore, 1-8 in 9 appearances.

Overview: In his first season as coach, Wes Moore was named the ESPNW ACC coach of the year. Moore led the Wolfpack to a 21-3 start, the best opening record since the 1981-1982 season, and will be taking them to their first NCAA tournament since 2010.

Did you know? Senior forward Kody Burke is just the third California native to play for the Wolfpack and ranks second in program history in blocks (196), 10th all-time in rebounds (823), 14th in career scoring (1,582 points), and tied for eighth in games played (129).

6. Gonzaga

Nickname: Bulldogs, Zags. Location: Spokane, Wash.

Record: 29-4, 16-2. Bid: West Coast champ.

Last appearance: 2013, lost to Iowa State in first round.

Coach: Kelly Graves, 8-7 in seven appearances.

Overview: These Zags don't have the go-to offensive star that some recent teams have featured, but they play solid defense and Haiden Palmer usually delivers when needed. They're tournament-ready and figure to be a tough out.

Twitter: @ZagWBB

Did you know? Sunny Grienacher, named West Coast Conference tournament Most Outstanding Player, is a former foreign exchange student from Essen, Germany whose real first name is Sonja.

7. DePaul

Nickname: Blue Demons. Location: Chicago

Record: 27-6, 15-3. Bid: Big East champ.

Last appearance: 2013, lost to Oklahoma State in first round.

Coach: Doug Bruno, 10-18 in 18 appearances

Overview: DePaul won 13 of its last 14 games regular-season games and clinched the team's first regular-season Big East title. The Blue Demons are making their 12th consecutive NCAA appearance.

Did you know? The Blue Demons rank third in Division I with 20.1 assists per game, fifth in scoring at 83.8 and eight in assist turnover ratio at 1.37.

8. Georgia

Nickname: Lady Bulldogs. Location: Athens.

Record: 20-11, 7-9. Bid: Southeastern at-large.

Last appearance: 2013, lost to California in Elite Eight.

Coach: Andy Landers, 55-30 in 30 appearances.

Overview: The Lady Bulldogs opened 11-0 but struggled to find consistency in SEC play. Guard Khaalidah Miller (11.0 ppg) is the only senior on the roster. One of the smaller groups of Lady Bulldogs with only one starter taller than 5-11. Sophomore Shacobia Barbee, who is 5-10, finished the regular season leading the team in scoring, rebounding, assists and steals.

Twitter: @UGA_WBB

Did you know? Landers' 55 wins in the tournament are the most for a coach who has not won a championship.

9.Saint Joseph's

Nickname: Hawks. Location: Philadelphia.

Record: 22-9, 10-6. Bid: Atlantic 10 at-large.

Last appearance: 2013, lost to Vanderbilt in the First Round

Coach: Cindy Griffin, 0-1 in one appearance.

Overview: The Hawks lost in the opening round of last year's tournament, and after returning three starters and having a practically identical season to that of 2012-2013, Saint Joseph's hopes for different fortunes in the 2013-2014 NCAA tournament.

Twitter: @SJUHawks_WBB

Did you know? Coach Cindy Griffin is one of eight coaches all-time to lead their alma mater to the NCAA tournament as a player and as a coach.

10. Oklahoma

Nickname: Sooners. Location: Norman.

Record: 18-14, 9-9. Bid: Big 12 at-large.

Last appearance: 2013, lost to Tennessee in Sweet Sixteen.

Coach: Sherri Coale, 28-14 in 14 appearances.

Overview: As OU's 2010 Final Four run proved, Coale can bring the best out her team when it matters. Senior guard Aaryn Ellenberg can light it up from outside, as she averaged nearly three 3-point field goals per game.

Overview: The Dukes have dominated in conference play, beating opponents by almost 27 points per game. Brooks has plenty of weapons at his disposal, with Kirby Burkholder, Precious Hall and Toia Giggetts each averaging more than 14 points per game.

Twitter: @JMUWBasketball

Did you know? Brooks' teams are 10-0 when playing on Super Bowl Sunday. They played on football's biggest day last year, a 68-63 win against William & Mary.

12. Brigham Young

Nickname: Cougars. Location: Provo, Utah.

Record: 26-6, 14-4. Bid: West Coast at-large.

Last appearance: 2012, lost to DePaul in first round.

Coach: Jeff Judkins, 3-5 in five appearances.

Overview: Despite being held in check by Gonzaga in their most recent outing, the Cougars are a high-scoring bunch. WCC player-of-the-year Jennifer Hamson, 6-7, and sharp-shooter Lexi Eaton provide the inside-out combination.

Twitter: @byuwbb

Did you know? Hamson's mother Tresa, is a former BYU all-American basketball player who still holds several school records.

13. Fresno State

Nickname: Bulldogs. Location: Fresno, Calif.

Record: 22-10, 13-5. Bid: Mountain West champ.

Last appearance: 2013, lost to California in the first round.

Coach: Raegan Pebley, 0-1 in one appearance.

Overview: The Bulldogs will make their seventh consecutive NCAA appearance, led by the backcourt of seniors Taylor Thompson and Bree Farley. The pair lead the team in scoring and also rank among the national leaders in steals. On offense, Fresno State shoots the ball well from the three-point line and free-throw line. Its biggest weakness is rebounding.

Twitter: @FresnoStateWBB.

Did you know? The Bulldogs last lost a conference tournament game in 2010. They've won four consecutive tournaments as members of the WAC and the Mountain West. They also have international roster with players from Australia (four), Mexico, Denmark and Martinique.

14. North Dakota

Nickname: None. Location: Grand Forks.

Record: 22-9, 15-5. Bid: Big Sky champ.

Last appearance: None.

Coach: Travis Brewster, first appearance.

Overview: Since Jan. 30, seven of North Dakota's wins have come by 20 points or more. In just its second season in the Big Sky the team was able to clinch the conference's automatic bid to the Big Dance. North Dakota's rebounding margin leads the Big Sky and is eighth nationally.

Twitter: @UNDWBasketball

Did you know? The school is playing without a nickname following controversy with the NCAA over a rule about the use of Native American nicknames and imagery.

15. Winthrop

Nickname: Eagles. Location: Rock Hill, S.C.

Record: 24-8, 15-5. Bid: Big South champ.

Last appearance: First appearance.

Coach: Kevin Cook, first appearance.

Overview: The Eagles have won 11 of their last 13, avenging on the losses by beating High Point for the conference title, paced by three-time Big South Player of the Year Dequesha McClanahan. She averaged 17.3 points, 6.6 rebounds and 6.9 assists in the regular season, including a triple-double in her final home game. Three other players also average double figures.

Twitter: @WinthropWBB

Did you know? McClanahan is the Big South's all-time leader in points and assists.

16. Prairie View

Nickname: Panthers. Location: Prairie View, Texas.

Record: 14-17, 11-7. Bid: Southwestern Athletic champ.

Last appearance: 2013, lost to Baylor in first round.

Coach: Dawn Brown, first appearance.

Overview: This is the fourth consecutive NCAA berth for the Panthers, who started the season 0-11 but closed it 13-4. They are led by junior guard Jeanette Jackson, who paces the SWAC in scoring (19.4 ppg) and is third in assists and steals. She also has set the school single-season scoring record with 601 points.

Twitter: @PVAthletics

Did you know? The four consecutive tournament appearances have come under three different coaches. Cynthia Cooper-Dyke and Toyelle Wilson are the others. Cooper-Dyke is now head coach at Southern California and Wilson is an assistant at Baylor. Both those teams are in the NCAA field, too.